For nine months, I had the invaluable opportunity to investigate the Yemeni civil conflict and humanitarian crisis in greater detail with the U.S. Agency for International Development — particularly within the lens of foreign diplomatic involvement on part of Iran and Saudi Arabia. Below is a summarized excerpt of those findings that I wished to…
My best friend was a soldier. She didn’t wear camo or combat boots, nor was a gun strapped to her shoulder. But her feet spoke more than her eyes. And her smile I always found a tale unworthy of disguise. On Fridays, she would trek miles to mine, before clasping my hand in hers and…
i return to los angeles to continue my studies; to go back to the life i am building for myself in order to heal from hometown trauma, let alone leave the drama behind. orange sparkled clouds upon berry eyes, i stare out and cry for my mother to hold me once more, once more a…
Trigger Warning: Mentions of violence on the Palestine Solidarity Encampment at UCLA. I attended the Palestine Solidarity Encampment with the idea that this is the best I could do for the people of Palestine. To physically show up would be my best shot at being an ally and an activist for the Palestinian struggle. And…
“I would say there are prominent communities that exist in the MSA, and mine isn’t one of them.” We have come a long way in developing and creating safe spaces on campus for our social identities, whether rooted in race, religion, or major. But at what point does creating a safe space for oneself start…
The Golden Age of Islam, which spanned from the 8th to the 14th centuries, remains an amazing source of inspiration and a beacon of incredible advancements across numerous disciplines. This era inspires a deep desire in many Muslims, including myself, to have lived through such a transformative time. In this period, cities like Baghdad, Cordoba,…